Mt. Isa

Monday, April 18, 2011

Week April 18

Hey,

This last week has been an interesting one. It started out pretty normal but by Wednesday night everything was going pretty crazy. That night we got several phone calls, the first was from the senior missionary that takes care of housing telling us we really needed to find a new place to live and we needed to be looking for places to rent. About an hour later Pres. Langeland called us and told us we were getting a senior couple and right after that, the office called to see what supplies we be needing to be sent up with the seniors. This was Wednesday night and they arrived Saturday afternoon. We've had to do a lot in that time to get ready for them. We cleaned up the flat next door to us. No one has been living there for about 4 months. It was stressful. As it turns out the senior couple are from Liberty Utah, Elder and Sister Rhodes. It’s unbelievable but they have been on like 7 missions and as it turns out, they actually know my old New Testament teacher, Andrew Skinner personally.

Anyways we had to take them here and there and to the shops this morning and yeah. It is great to have them and more especially the car but its rather burdensome to have them right next door to us. I feel like we have so much we need to tell them and introduce them to but they're just kind of doing their own thing so whatever. I'm looking forward to conference this weekend and am very excited for it (LOL), yeah, it is the little things like Conference that does it now. Funny as that is. I got the package by the way. Thank you so much for that I really do appreciate it and it means a lot to me. I love the Texas flag and I already hung it in my room right over my bed. The Girl Scout "cookies" or buscits are great and of course I love the card as well it does remind me of home.

I have a little time left so I'll tell you about one interesting guy that in our branch. Just to put it out there I could tell you about several people but one in particular is a bloke... He is probably in his 50's and he's an interesting fellow. He grew up here in Mt Isa and has lived here for most of his life. He didn't grow up as a Christian but had some interesting dreams/vision and then converted to Catholicism. After about 20 years of that he converted to Judaism and for 8 years followed that. Two years ago he started having the LDS missionaries over and now he is coming regularly to our little Branch. He still wears his crosses, and reads his bible, wears has kipa and reads the Jewish law and now is also reading the Book of Mormon and loves it. He believes it and has a testimony but he also believe Christ will personally baptize him. He one of those people who are just unbelievably nice and will give you anything he can give you. Last transfer he gave us each kipa's and a legitimate Siddur book of Jewish prayers. It is awesome. I'll probably be sending those home sometime just for safe keeping. A great guy though and one of those people that you just have to love; a little different but a great bloke all the same.

Well I've been good. I’m looking forward to chatting with you in a couple of weeks. It should be fun. Thanks for the package again and the supportive emails. It does mean a lot to me. Love you.

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Two Years

This blog is dedicated to Kiefer and his work in the mission field for the next two years. November 2010 - November 2012

Mowing

Kiefer vs. the Paddock

Where in the world ...

Every Missionary loves a letter from a friend or family.

Mailing Address:

Elder Kiefer R. Hatch

Australia Brisbane Mission

P.O. Box 348

Hamilton

Brisbane, QLD 4007

Australia

Kiefer's is currently serving in Nerang which is part of the Gold Coast area of Queensland south of Brisbane. It is best to mail letters and (small) packages to the Mission home in Brisbane. Australian Customs opens and inspects all packages and their contents. Any non-commercially packaged food or questionable materials will be removed. I think want he would most appreciate are letters and pictures. It is best to take all letters and packages your friendly, neighborhood USPS because international mail has different regulations and costs that stateside mail. The Priority Flat-Rate options are the best. The USPS contracts all international mail through FedEx and the Flat-Rate options are the most reasonable cost-wise.

I have found that it takes about 10 days for Kiefer to receive a letter and a bit longer (depending on how long it takes in Customs) for him to receive a package.

The LDS Church also provides a "Pouch" system for single page, tri-folded letters adn requires only one US stamp. For instructions, please visit:

Kiefer's email is kiefer.hatch.@myldsmail.net. Please remember that he read his emails only once a week. Also, he has to pay to get a printed copy of emails and he has only one hour a week online. Mission rule allow him to email his immediate weekly but that is all. So don't feel neglected if he doesn't reply to your e-mail. He is not supposed to hence, this blog. Thanks!